Basic fibroblast growth factor in mesothelioma pleural effusions: Correlation with patient survival and angiogenesis

  • Authors:
    • Luigi Strizzi
    • Giovina Vianale
    • Alfonso Catalano
    • Raffaella Muraro
    • Luciano Mutti
    • Antonio Procopio
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: May 1, 2001     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.18.5.1093
  • Pages: 1093-1098
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Abstract

The expression of angiogenic factors may represent useful markers for diagnosis and prediction of disease outcome. Basic fibroblast growth factor (b-FGF) is a potent angiogenic factor which promotes in vitro growth of endothelial cells and in vivo vessel formation. We investigated the expression of b-FGF in patients affected with malignant and non-malignant pleural diseases and presenting clinically with non-specific signs and symptoms. We also studied the relationships between the expression of b-FGF in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MM) and tumour aggressiveness, assessed as tumour vessel density (TVD), or patient survival. Basic-FGF was measured by immunoassay in the serum and pleural effusions (PE) of 37 patients. Of these, MM was diagnosed in 15/37 patients while the remaining patients had either peripheral lung adenocarcinoma (PLA) or benign inflammatory pleural disease (BPD). The mean b-FGF level measured 8.5±6.1 pg/ml in the PE of the malignant group (MM + PLA) and 23.9±19.8 in the PE of the non-malignant group (BPD) (p=0.001). The mean b-FGF level was significantly lower in the PE of MM patients (6.9±5.2 pg/ml) compared to BPD patients (p=0.004). Linear regression analysis showed a significant inverse correlation (r=-0.59; p=0.041) between b-FGF levels found in MM PE and patient survival. A noteworthy relationship between high serum b-FGF levels and reduced survival was also observed (r=-0.57; p=0.052). Interestingly, both serum (r=0.48; p=0.114) and PE (r=0.26; p=0.413) b-FGF levels in MM patients correlated poorly with TVD. Our data indicate that b-FGF is significantly more expressed in non-malignant compared to malignant PE, this difference being particularly evident between MM and BPD. Our results also suggest that high b-FGF levels correlate with poor MM patient survival through mechanisms which may be independent of b-FGF angiogenic potential.

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May 2001
Volume 18 Issue 5

Print ISSN: 1019-6439
Online ISSN:1791-2423

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Spandidos Publications style
Strizzi L, Vianale G, Catalano A, Muraro R, Mutti L and Procopio A: Basic fibroblast growth factor in mesothelioma pleural effusions: Correlation with patient survival and angiogenesis. Int J Oncol 18: 1093-1098, 2001.
APA
Strizzi, L., Vianale, G., Catalano, A., Muraro, R., Mutti, L., & Procopio, A. (2001). Basic fibroblast growth factor in mesothelioma pleural effusions: Correlation with patient survival and angiogenesis. International Journal of Oncology, 18, 1093-1098. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.18.5.1093
MLA
Strizzi, L., Vianale, G., Catalano, A., Muraro, R., Mutti, L., Procopio, A."Basic fibroblast growth factor in mesothelioma pleural effusions: Correlation with patient survival and angiogenesis". International Journal of Oncology 18.5 (2001): 1093-1098.
Chicago
Strizzi, L., Vianale, G., Catalano, A., Muraro, R., Mutti, L., Procopio, A."Basic fibroblast growth factor in mesothelioma pleural effusions: Correlation with patient survival and angiogenesis". International Journal of Oncology 18, no. 5 (2001): 1093-1098. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.18.5.1093